iPads Susceptible To iPhone Malware, Researchers Say

PRESS RELEASE

ORLANDO, Fla., June 23, 2010 – PandaLabs, Panda Security’s antimalware laboratory, has revealed that malware designed to infect iPhones can also compromise the popular iPad, as demonstrated in a video on the PandaLabs blog at http://www.pandalabs.com.

“This doesn't mean we're about to face an avalanche of infections. We have always stated that as Apple increases its market share, cyber-crooks will begin to show more interest in targeting the platform,” said Luis Corrons, technical director of PandaLabs. “However, we are certainly beginning to see more proofs of concept, and so advise all Mac users to follow the manufacturer's recommendations to maximize security on their operating systems.”

Despite the fact that Apple has made it impossible to install peripherals and software outside of those found in its own App Store, cyber-criminals have found a way to infect jailbroken iPad devices with malware.

All malware designed for iPhones, such as the iPhone/Eeki.A worm that PandaLabs warned about last year, will have the same ability to infect and spread to iPad devices due to the iPad and the iPhone sharing the same operating system, known as iOS. Apple released iOS 4, the new version of its operating system, this Monday.

The iPhone/Eeki.A worm infected jailbroken iPhones. Jailbreaking refers to the process by which criminals tamper with iPhones in order to install applications that are not available in the official Apple App Store. In addition to the iPad, malware designed for the iPhone can also infect the iPad touch.

For more information and to see the video demonstration, please visit www.pandalabs.com.

About PandaLabs

Since 1990, its mission has been to detect and eliminate new threats as rapidly as possible to offer our clients maximum security. To do so, PandaLabs has an innovative automated system that analyzes and classifies thousands of new samples a day and returns automatic verdicts (malware or goodware). This system is the basis of collective intelligence, Panda Security’s new security model which can even detect malware that has evaded other security solutions.

Currently, 99.4 percent of malware detected by PandaLabs is analyzed through this system of collective intelligence. This is complemented through the work of several teams, each specialized in a specific type of malware (viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, phishing, spam, etc), who work 24/7 to provide global coverage. This translates into more secure, simpler and more resource-friendly solutions for clients.

More information is available in the PandaLabs blog: http://www.pandalabs.com